Brake impact tool

ABSTRACT

A tool for impacting a frozen brake component includes an outer guide tube, an impact bar which slides within the outer guide tube and has an impact tip, which is retracted in the outer guide tube when the impact bar is retracted, and which extends beyond the guide tube when the impact bar is extended. The impact bar and the outer guide tube are curved identically and sufficiently to allow the far end of the impact bar to impact a brake component when the tool is inserted in a wheel opening.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for impacting abrake component to release a frozen brake.

BACKGROUND

Frozen brakes can occur when a vehicle such as a heavy truck or heavyhaul trailer is parked with the parking brake applied in below freezingtemperatures when brakes are wet. The brake shoes can freeze directly tothe brake drum. or brake pads can freeze directly the brake disk, ineither case causing the brakes unable to be released.

There are difficult to achieve methods currently used to release frozenbrakes, most of which are unsafe. A person can crawl underneath theheavy truck or heavy haul trailer and use an open flame torch to meltthe ice on the froze up brakes. It is a time consuming, slow processthat can be dangerous. It can damage mechanical parts such as valvestems or can cause wheel seals to be damaged and leak oil. There is alsothe potential for the possibility of creating a fire. Alternatively, aperson can crawl underneath the heavy truck or heavy haul trailer anduse a hammer or steel bar to try to hit the frozen brake drum withenough force to make the direct contact needed to generate the requiredvibration to break up the ice. Because of the location and it being sodifficult to make contact with, it often results in damaging mechanicalparts such as brake lines, dust covers and the like. Both of thesemethods require being underneath the vehicle, they cannot be performedbeside it.

The only one way to prevent brakes shoes from freezing onto a brake drumin the first place is to lock the brakes out when parking using suppliedair from the vehicle or through a mechanical lock out. However, that cancreate a dangerous situation because the vehicle can roil ahead or backbecause the brakes have been released.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for an apparatus and method forconveniently and safely rectifying frozen brakes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention comprises a brake impact tool comprising:

(a) an outer guide tube having a far end and a near end;

(b) an impact bar, disposed within the guide tube, configured to slidewithin the outer guide tube, and having a far end having an impact tipand a near end which protrudes from the guide tube;

(c) wherein the impact bar is moveable between a retracted position andan extended position wherein the impact tip impacts the far end of theguide tube or protrudes out from the guide tube;

(d) wherein either the impact bar is angled, or the outer guide tube andimpact bar are identically and sufficiently curved, to allow the impacttip or the far end of the guide tube to impact a brake component whenthe tool is inserted in a wheel opening.

In another aspect, the invention comprises method of freeing a frozenbrake by impacting a brake component, comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting a curved or angled tool comprising an outer guide tube andan inner impact bar which slides within the guide tube through a wheelopening such that a far end of the guide tube contacts the brakecomponent;

(b) while gripping the outer guide tube, sliding the impact bar throughthe guide tube to contact the brake component with sufficient force tofree the brake.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings form part of the specification and are includedto further demonstrate certain embodiments or various aspects of theinvention. In some instances, embodiments of the invention can be bestunderstood by referring to the accompanying drawings in combination withthe detailed description presented herein. The description andaccompanying drawings may highlight a certain specific example, or acertain aspect of the invention. However, one skilled in the art willunderstand that portions of the example or aspect may be used incombination with other examples or aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the tool described herein.

FIG. 2A shows another embodiment. FIG. 2B shows the far end of yetanother embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows the near end of the tool in use, after insertion into awheel opening.

FIG. 4 shows the far end of the tool in use, showing the impact tipbearing against a brake drum, after passing through an outer wheelopening and an inner wheel opening. A portion of the inner wheel (whichdoes not have a tire mounted on it) has been cut away to show the brakedrum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one aspect of the invention, the invention comprises a manuallyoperated sliding impact tool configured to impact a brake component suchas a brake drum, which may be sufficient to break ice buildup on frozenbrakes, particularly on heavy trucks and heavy haul trailers. The brakemay be frozen because of buildup of ice or foreign matter, or because ofcorrosion. In any case, the impact of an impact bar loosens or removesthe ice, foreign matter or corrosion causing the brake component to befrozen.

As shown in FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the tool (10) comprises a curvedouter guide tube (12) and a curved angled inner impact bar (14)slidingly disposed within the guide tube, which has an impact tip (16)at its far end and a handle (18) at its near end. In one embodiment, thehandle is larger than the inner diameter of the outer guide tube. Thehandle may be a separate component and attached to the impact bar, ormay be integrally formed as one part of the impact bar.

Preferably, the outer guide tube and inner impact bar are curved withidentical curvatures such that the impact bar may be inserted into theouter guide tube and is able to slide within the outer guide tube, withminimal resistance. The impact bar may be slid between a retractedposition and an impact position, where the impact tip protrudes out pastthe end of the outer guide tube, as shown in FIG. 1.

An alternative embodiment of the tool is shown in FIG. 2A. Preferably,the outer guide tube (12) also includes a grippable handle (20) alongits length to facilitate handling and use. In one embodiment, the impactbar comprises a weight (22) which increases the force with which itimpacts the brake drum. The weight may also have a larger diameter thanthe outer guide tube. Alternatively, the impact bar may be internallyweighted to provide sufficient mass. A portion of the outer guide tubemay have a rubber or plastic coating (24) positioned where the guidetube would contact the wheel opening when in position, in order tominimize any damage to the wheel. A removable quick-release pin (26) maybe used to prevent movement of the impact bar when the tool is not inuse.

In an alternative embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2B the far end of theouter guide tube may be closed, and the impact tip slides within andcontacts the closed end (13), which transmits the impact force to thebrake components.

FIGS. 3 and 4 shows the tool in position for use, in a conventionalheavy haul trailer axle having an outer wheel (OW) and an inner wheel(IW), where the brake drum (B) is surrounded by the inner wheel. Aportion of the inner wheel is cutaway in FIG. 4 to facilitate viewing ofthe brake drum (B). The tool is inserted into an opening in the outerwheel and an opening in the inner wheel, until the far end of the guidetube contacts the brake drum, as shown in FIG. 4. The curvature of thetool permits its use through a wheel opening, while still permitting theimpact tip to reach the brake drum, which is typically disposed behindthe inner wheel (IW), inaccessible to a linear tool. The degree ofcurvature is not critical, so long as the tool may still reach the brakedrum behind the wheel after being inserted through a wheel opening. Inone embodiment, the tool is approximately 80 cm to 1 meter long, andhave an approximate angle of curvature of about 45 to 55 degrees, andpreferably about 50 degrees, shown in FIG. 2.

After the tool is in position, the impact bar may then be retracted, andthen forcefully moved to its extended position until the impact tipcontacts the brake drum or the closed end of the guide tube. In eithercase, the momentum of the impact bar causes a force to be transmitted tothe brake drum, which may be sufficient to release the brake drum bybreaking up ice buildup, or otherwise dislodging foreign material.

An alternative embodiment is shown in FIG. 5, where the impact bar (32)has an angled end (34). The angle allows the tool to be inserted throughthe wheel opening, and the angled end of the impact bar to reach thebrake component, even where the outer guide tube (30) is substantiallystraight.

The impact tip may be rounded so as not to damage the brake drum onimpact, but still convey sufficient force to the brake drum to unfreezethe brake components upon impact. In one embodiment, the tip may bereplaceable, such as by being a threaded component which attaches to thefar end of the impact bar. In one embodiment, the tip may be comprisedof a non-sparking material, such as brass or a plastic, so as to preventsparking in flammable environments, or a softer material to preventdamage on less robust brake components, such as disk brakes. Thus, thetool may be provided with two or more replaceable tips made of differentmaterials for different purposes.

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposesof illustration and description, but it is not intended to be exhaustiveor limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modificationsand variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.Embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude anyoptional element. As such, this statement is intended to serve asantecedent basis for the use of exclusive terminology, such as “solely,”“only,” and the like, in connection with the recitation of claimelements or use of a “negative” limitation. The terms “preferably,”“preferred,” “prefer,” “optionally,” “may,” and similar terms are usedto indicate that an item, condition or step being referred to is anoptional (not required) feature of the invention.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof. The term “another”, as used herein,is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and“having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., openlanguage). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as“connected,” although not necessarily directly, and not necessarilymechanically.

References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”,etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particularaspect, feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodimentnecessarily includes that aspect, feature, structure, or characteristic.Moreover, such phrases may, but do not necessarily, refer to the sameembodiment referred to in other portions of the specification. Further,when a particular aspect, feature, structure, or characteristic isdescribed in connection with an embodiment, it is within the knowledgeof one skilled in the art to affect or connect such aspect, feature,structure, or characteristic with other embodiments, whether or notexplicitly described. In other words, any element or feature may becombined with any other element or feature in different embodiments,unless there is an obvious or inherent incompatibility between the two,or it is specifically excluded.

What is claimed is:
 1. A brake impact tool comprising: (a) an outerguide tube having a far end and a near end; (b) an impact bar, disposedwithin the guide tube, configured to slide within the outer guide tube,and having a far end having an impact tip and a near end which protrudesfrom the guide tube; (c) wherein the impact bar is moveable between aretracted position and an extended position wherein the impact tipimpacts the far end of the guide tube or protrudes out from the guidetube; and (d) wherein the outer guide tube and impact bar areidentically curved such that the impact bar may slide within the outerguide tube between its retracted position and its extended position. 2.The tool of claim 1 wherein the impact bar comprises a weight whichincreases the force of impact.
 3. The tool of claim 1 wherein the impacttip is replaceable and comprises steel, brass or a plastic.
 4. The toolof claim 1 wherein the near end of the impact bar comprises a handle,and the outer guide tube comprises a handle along its length.
 5. Thetool of claim 1 wherein tool has a degree of curvature between about 45degrees and 55 degrees.
 6. The tool of claim 5 wherein the degree ofcurvature is about 50 degrees.
 7. The tool of claim 1 wherein the farend of the guide tube is closed, and the impact tip impacts the closedend when the impact bar is in its extended position.
 8. The tool ofclaim 1 wherein the far end of the guide tube is open, and the impacttip protrudes from the guide tube when the impact bar is in its extendedposition.
 9. The tool of claim 1 wherein a portion of the impact barwhich protrudes from the far end of the guide tube is angled.